Formula 1
Alpine 'just weeks' from Mercedes engine call as it assesses costs
Alpine lays out a deadline for its 2026 Formula 1 engine decision as it assesses remaining a factory engine squad versus a Mercedes customer outfit
Franco Nugnes Jake Boxall-Legge
Edited: Sep 9, 2024, 11:01 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Alpine expects to have a final decision on its 2026 engine partner in less than a month's time, as Renault's board presses on with its assessment of its Viry-Chatillon-based Formula 1 engine project.
Renault had begun the process of developing a power unit that would satisfy the 2026 regulations, which features a more even split between the internal combustion engine and the hybrid components in terms of power delivery.
After discussions within Renault CEO Luca de Meo, Bruno Famin made the announcement of the project's cancellation one of his last acts as team principal, noting that the staff at Viry would have the opportunity to work on Alpine/Renault's other motorsport programmes.
Watch: F1 Italian GP News Round Up - Rookies and Race Bans
In the aftermath, a number of employees at Viry went on strike, with many travelling to the Italian Grand Prix to make their displeasure public.
Explaining the current situation to Motorsport.com, de Meo stated that the option to turn Alpine into an effective customer entity was ongoing, with Mercedes the likeliest supplier of powertrains to the team in 2026.
"We have four or five weeks to define the situation in the board," de Meo said at the beginning of September. "We are analysing how to approach F1 from 2026 in order to be more competitive and we are evaluating every opportunity.
"The idea of switching to Mercedes engines is on the table, but I can assure you that there is no choice done yet."
Luca de Meo, CEO, Renault Group
Photo by: Michael Potts / Motorsport Images
De Meo added that the cost ramifications of switching to a customer team was massive, although noted that the negative consequences of marketing - Renault ditching its own engine project to jump into bed with another manufacturer - would be a factor in the final decision.
This comes after Alpine's employees released figures of the 2026 engine project thus far, stating that they showed promise and that the Viry-Chatillon engineers were on track to meet targets.
"If we make a purely financial analysis of how much it costs to make a 2026 power unit in-house and how much you could save with a customer engine, the difference becomes enormous," de Meo said.
"So whoever looks at the numbers can only sense what may be the opportunity to go into the new F1 regulations with a more competitive but less expensive project.
"Having said that, I would add that the proposal is on the table, but there has been no decision by the board. This is one of the aspects that is being discussed with so many other important points on how we will approach F1 in the future.
"Here's where so many other factors come into play that will lead to a decision: what does marketing think? What would be the negative consequences of this choice vs a huge financial saving?"
"This is the financial picture and it has to be cross-referenced with everything else. The ambition is to build a competitive project and so there are many factors involved in the choices that will have to be weighed up very carefully."
De Meo also stated that nothing was for sale; the Alpine racing team would continue under Renault ownership, and the Viry base will house new projects.
"We are not selling anything. At Viry-Chatillon there are capable and prepared people who are working not only on F1,” he confirmed.
"We have started important innovative projects not only in motorsport, so we need to keep calm so that we can arrive at the best choices."
Read Also:
Formula 1Bearman replaces banned Magnussen at Haas for Azerbaijan GP
Formula 1Ferrari appoints Mercedes signing Serra as new F1 technical director
Formula 1Newey’s move to Aston Martin set to be made official
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article How Piastri is already showing signs of being a true F1 great
Next article Red Bull’s ‘monster’ to Ferrari’s bouncing: What’s behind F1’s car balance problems?
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Franco Nugnes
Aston Martin braces for Australian GP pain amid Honda F1 crisis
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Aston Martin braces for Australian GP pain amid Honda F1 crisis
Alpine's innovative 2026 F1 rear wing explained
Formula 1
Formula 1
Barcelona-Catalunya Pre-Season Testing
Alpine's innovative 2026 F1 rear wing explained
Gianpiero Lambiase in talks to leave Red Bull for Williams or Aston Martin
Formula 1
Formula 1
Gianpiero Lambiase in talks to leave Red Bull for Williams or Aston Martin
Latest news
Max Verstappen jokes about key difference with Kimi Antonelli at 20: “He speaks Italian!”
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
6 min
Max Verstappen jokes about key difference with Kimi Antonelli at 20: “He speaks Italian!”
Kimi Antonelli almost had to retire in Mexico due to an oil leak
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
44 min
Kimi Antonelli almost had to retire in Mexico due to an oil leak
How Mercedes can win F1’s world constructors’ title at Brazil GP
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
How Mercedes can win F1’s world constructors’ title at Brazil GP
1980 F1 world champion Alan Jones dies aged 80
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 2 h
1980 F1 world champion Alan Jones dies aged 80
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1960s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1960s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe